Stars Come Out For LGBTIQ Concert At Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

A lineup of queer performers took to the stage on Monday night for a special concert supporting LGBTIQ pride at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Brisbane-born drag superstar Courtney Act hosted the “Sparkle in the Sand” concert on the beach at Surfers Paradise as part of the Games’ arts and cultural festival.

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Courtney (pictured below) welcomed performers including Beccy Cole, Marcia Hines, Matthew Mitcham, Luke Antony, Alfie Arcuri and DJ Kitty Glitter to the stage, and applauded Games organisers for holding it as an official event.

“If roughly 10 percent of the population is LGBTI and there’s 6,600 competitors, that means that 660 competitors may be queer,” she said.

“Not all of them are out yet, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that it’s still illegal to be queer in many of the Commonwealth countries. In two of those countries it’s still punishable by death.

“That’s why tonight is so amazing, because this is an official Commonwealth Games event. We’re sending a message to all of those countries to say, you know what? We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it, and we’re having a fabulous time.”